Signed AMI Made Easy

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whether it's Hollywood celebrities star athletes or rock stars for many fans an autograph is a treasure the FBI says it's a billion dollar a year business but how much of that commercial merchandise out there is the real deal contact 13 investigator Darcy Spears digs into the murky world of memorabilia retired musician Steve Kamali collects autographed posters and photos of his favorite classic rock icons and celebrities that's Jimmy his signature on a photo of him playing Steve bought most of his memorabilia and antiquities international in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace a Marilyn Monroe handbag Jimi Hendrix autographed lyrics a poster of George Harrison signed by the Beatle himself and an autographed photo of Judy Garland about $1100 for this autograph altogether it was a twenty thousand dollar investment but when Steve set out to sell his treasures so he could buy a home well I couldn't basically pawn or sell them or watching them why they all claimed that it wasn't authentic Steve asked to Beverly Hills auction houses for help but they could not authenticate the Jimi Hendrix lyrics yeah I'll be here per minute Steve eventually was able to recoup some of his money after antiquities international took back the Monroe purse and Hendrix lyrics but the problem for many consumers is there's no one policing those who sell memorabilia to ensure what they're selling is genuine these items of sports memorabilia were signed by the athletes while the fans watched which is the only 100% guarantee that what you've got is authentic the industry uses third parties who issue certificates of authenticity while some claim to use scientific methods there's no government oversight or standard one of those companies that's considered an industry leader is James Spence authentication JSA recently examined Steve's George Harrison poster and concluded it's not in fact an authentic example with rare exception autographs in Las Vegas she stay in Vegas Steve Serkan runs autograph Live a blog where collectors and experts help protect each other against buying forgeries something the FBI is all too familiar with it's very common it's obviously something that there's a lot of money to be made in fake memorabilia supervisory agent Jose Perez says it often boils down to buyer beware it's too good to be true it probably is the owner of Antiquities international declined to talk with us on camera but says she's run an honest business for 35 years and claims everything in her store is certified and genuine if you're buying memorabilia be sure you trust the seller and know the store or websites return and guarantee policy before you buy Darcie spears 13 Action News